June 12, 2024
Action: Opens Puget Sound summer recreational crab seasons.
Species affected: Dungeness, Red Rock, and Tanner crab.
Effective Dates and Locations:
- Marine areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, 5, 6, 8-1, 8-2, and 9: Open Thursday through Monday each week, from July 1 through September 2, 2024.
- Sub-area 7 South (Those waters of Marine Area 7 south and west of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island, through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island, thence to the buoy at Clements Reef, thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, thence running along the northern shore of Patos Island to the westernmost point of Patos Island, thence true west to the international boundary and south of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island):
Open Thursday through Monday each week July 18 through September 30, 2024.
- Sub-area 7 North (Those waters of Marine Area 7 north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island):
Open Thursday through Monday each week Aug. 15 through September 30, 2024.
- Marine Area 10 and Marine Area 11:
Open Sunday and Monday each week July 1 through August 26, 2024.
- Marine Area 12 north of a line projected due east from Ayock Point:
Open Thursday through Monday each week July 1 through September 2, 2024.
- Marine Area 12 south of a line projected due east from Ayock Point and Marine Area 13: Closed until further notice.
Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers have agreed that legal size Dungeness crabs will have reached the hardshell criteria for harvest by these dates in the areas being fished. These start dates will aid in achieving harvest sharing goals with treaty tribes.
Marine Area 12 south of a line projected due east from Ayock Point, and Marine Area 13 will be kept closed to promote recovery of Dungeness crab populations in these areas.
Additional information: The daily limits for crabs in all open Marine Areas will be 5 Dungeness, 6 Red Rock, and 6 Tanner.
When fishing from a vessel, gear may not be set or retrieved from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. Gear must be removed from the water on days closed to retention.
When fishing from land or land-based platforms (e.g. piers or docks) hand harvest and use of hand gear (dip nets, ring nets, shellfish pots, or any hand-operated, nonmechanized instrument) is open 24 hours per day on days open in that marine area.
All Dungeness crabs retained through Labor Day must be recorded immediately on a summer catch record card. Dungeness crabs retained after Labor Day must be recorded immediately on a winter catch record card.
Information contact: Don Velasquez, Mill Creek Regional Office, (425) 725-3038.